Don't lose points for stupidity this holiday

And don't be surprised to be flagged down by officers such as Sergeant Paul Beudeker with Operation Safe Return targeting drink-drivers, speeding and

seatbelt offences.

Police have two "booze buses" in Tamworth and are conducting round-the-clock random breath testing.

Meanwhile, speeding and seatbelt offences will attract double demerits, with one extra demerit point applying to all other driving offences.

"Motorists who speed or fail to wear their seatbelt run the risk of incurring double demerit points which may mean a loss of licence," Traffic Service Commander Ron Sorrenson said.

An RTA spokesperson reminded motorists that the number of demerit points for speeding up to 15 km/h over the limit was recently increased from one point to two and would attract four demerit points during this period.

"Double demerits have been a significant deterrent to speeding and other driving offences since their introduction," the spokesperson said.

"In the 31 holiday periods up to and including the Christmas-New Year 2002/2003 in which double demerits have applied, there have been 21 per cent fewer fatalities than for the same holiday periods before double demerits."

Commander Sorrenson said police data showed a trend in 2002 of more crashes in rural areas, however this trend had reversed in recent weeks with more fatalities recorded in metropolitan areas.

"Road crashes don't discriminate by post code," Commander Sorrenson said.

"We all have to take care, whether we live in the city or the bush."

Motorists are warned to slow down and drive to the posted speed limit, not to drink and drive, to wear proper restraints while in the vehicle and to take a break every two hours on long trips.

For details on the Driver Reviver sites operating around NSW over the holiday travel period, check the RTA website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au.